Gas Reserves in Russia Will Last Another Hundred Years
Unlike Europe, where their gas quickly ran out and they had to import it further, Russia has enough reserves. There will be enough gas for another 100 years to provide the population with cheap fuel.
The beginning of gas use in Russia at the end of the 19th century was not associated with these reserves. At that time, for street lighting and heating, gas obtained from the processing of coal and oil, the so-called artificial gas, was used. The period of mass installation of gas stoves in houses fell on the 1950-1960s, when the mass construction of cities with five-story buildings began.
There was an economic justification for this process. Production of gas stoves is easier and cheaper than reliable and durable electric stoves. Such models appeared later, and were brought to mind only by the end of the 20th century. In addition, gas was cheap, and the new homes did not need to have electrical networks capable of withstanding a large additional load. But in the 1970s, they began to build houses above 20 floors. At the same time, a ban on gasification of houses above 10 floors is introduced – for security reasons. Although the 12-story houses built shortly before that were still gasified.
Pavel Sigal, First Vice President of OPORA Russia, notes that electric stoves are more advanced in terms of functionality, various options that are available to consumers, and are also safer. The gas is highly flammable, leaks may occur, equipment should be checked regularly. Fire is also a source of danger, especially for children. If we talk about the cost, then electricity is more expensive than gas, because gas stoves are more economical. It is clear that if all houses are converted to electricity, then the equipment must be changed, and this will cost many billions of rubles.
There is another side here as well. Oddly enough, foreign policy. According to IVA Partners expert Artem Klyukin, in light of the fact that now gas supplies to the West are being reduced and it is still unknown how long the current situation will last, an excess of gas is forming in Russia. In this context, the idea of replacing gas stoves with electric ones where pipes have already been laid looks at least strange. Moreover, gas is used, among other things, to generate electricity, and the laws of physics cannot be deceived – after the transfer of thermal energy into electrical energy, transmission by wire and a new conversion into thermal energy, it is difficult to expect to win. And that’s not counting the cost of upgrading power grids and replacing the stoves themselves. So the feasibility of choosing gas or electric stoves may be considered depending on local conditions in the case of new homes, but replacing gas appliances with electric ones in existing homes is not advisable.
Dmitry Baranov, the leading expert of Finam Management, does not agree with this. Replacing gas stoves with electric ones is expedient, he believes. Firstly, it will reduce the number of accidents with gas equipment. Secondly, it will have a positive impact on the environment, because there are no harmful emissions during the operation of electric stoves. Thirdly, such a valuable resource as gas will not simply be burned, but can be used for other purposes.
The demand for electric stoves will push the engineering industry, consumers will want to purchase different types of stoves, which will serve to develop the production of the entire segment of household appliances in the country. It may be necessary to partially replace the equipment in some homes, where it is worn out and may not be able to withstand the additional load, but such a replacement is unlikely to be massive throughout the country. But the estimated cost of replacing electrical equipment can be several billion rubles.
